Rains continue to lash Delhi-NCR; air quality improves

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: Aug 18, 2019, 11:52 IST

Several parts of Delhi remained waterlogged after continuous rains. (TOI photo by Rajesh Mehta)

NOIDA: After witnessing light rain and overcast skies on Saturday, Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) continued to experience light to moderate rainfall on Sunday morning. The minimum temperature settled at 24.8 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average. Humidity was recorded at 98 per cent. The Safdarjung observatory, the recording for which is considered official for the city, received 45.7 mm of rainfall while Palam received 11.4 mm rainfall till 8.30 am, reported PTI. The Lodhi Road observatory received 49.9 mm rainfall while the Ridge received 65.8 mm rainfall. Ayanagar received 20.8 mm rainfall till 8.30 am. Thanks to the rain over the past few days, Delhi's air is now in the good category. The overall air quality index, according to CPCB was 49 on Saturday. The air quality is predicted to stay in the 'good' category for the next three days, according to forecasting body SAFAR. "Widespread rainfall and high surface wind conditions continue to positively influence air quality for the second day. Similar conditions are expected for August 17 and 18," the forecasting body stated in its report on Saturday. Waterlogging and traffic jams were also reported in some areas of the national capital due to persistent rain. Commuters were stuck at major junctions such as Dhaula Kuan, DND flyover, AIIMS, Nigambodh Ghat due to ankle-deep water. Stretches around Pitampura and Kamla Nagar were also snarled due to this, reported ANI. Waterlogging was reported on Mangal Bazar road, BSF camp on Tigri Road, Vayusenabad, Peepal Chowk. and many other places.

"There is an obstruction in traffic on Mehrauli-Badarpur road due to waterlogging near Prahladpur. Kindly avoid the stretch," tweeted Delhi Traffic Police. Delhi and its adjoining areas such as Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad are likely to receive moderate rains for the next few days with minimum and maximum temperatures hovering around 25 degree Celsius and 34 degree Celsius, stated India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its weather forecast bulletin.

The relative humidity in these regions is likely to oscillate between 87 per cent to 92 per cent for the next few days. (With inputs from agencies)